Soil Values Program Restored Sahel Farmland
The initiative targets sustainable agriculture for 1.5 million farmers across the Sahel region from 2024 to 2033.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Should African nations prioritize large-scale funding for soil restoration to improve long-term food security?
Operating from 2024 to 2033, the Soil Values program aims to improve soil health and food security across the African Sahel. The project targets 2 million hectares of land and provides direct support to 1.5 million farmers.
Why it matters
Restoring soil health is essential for maintaining sustainable farm incomes and achieving long-term climate resilience. The program addresses foundational needs for regional food security through integrated management techniques.
The program supports 1.5 million farmers, including 800,000 women, across Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and northern Nigeria. In 2024, the initiative identified 57 technological innovations and selected 501 agricultural service providers.
The players
International Fertilizer Development Center
This organization leads the Soil Values program and focuses on improving soil health through sustainable agricultural practices.
Wageningen University & Research
This institution is a key partner in the implementation of the Soil Values program across the Sahel.
Netherlands Development Organisation
This group acts as a primary leader for the multi-year soil restoration efforts in Africa.
The details
The initiative utilizes integrated soil fertility management by combining organic and mineral inputs with conservation and water management practices. Implementation strategies include digital soil mapping alongside bundled public-private service models.
Timeline
The Soil Values program runs its operations from 2024 to 2033.
The 17th Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD took place from August 17 to 28, 2026, in Ulaanbaatar.
The Africa Food Systems Forum was held in early September 2026 in Kigali.
By 2034, the Nairobi Declaration aims to provide targeted agronomic recommendations to 70% of smallholder farmers.
Culture Shift
This program aligns with the Nairobi Declaration, reflecting a broader societal shift toward prioritizing sustainable soil health for food security. It signals a move away from traditional farming toward integrated, tech-driven agricultural management.
The program alters daily routines for regional farmers by introducing new digital mapping tools and bundled service models. These changes require farmers to adopt new soil management practices that directly impact their long-term crop yields and financial stability.
The takeaway
The program illustrates how large-scale soil restoration relies on integrating both mineral and organic inputs. Readers can consider how regional agricultural practices adapt through public-private partnerships to improve food production resilience.
Further reading
Learn more about sustainable farming initiatives in the Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ecofin Agency.
Live Poll
Should African nations prioritize large-scale funding for soil restoration to improve long-term food security?
